Help ! Air Bag Red Warning Light Diagnostic

[Toyotosrus]

Hi All

First timer on here. I have a 2003 Toyota Avensis T-3 5 DR 1.8 VVT -I

I had a recall for an airbag problem. The day after going to the dealer, the red airbag warning light came on. After getting back from holiday, I went back to the dealer and they said it was nothing to do with what they had done with the recall. They said to do a diagnostic was £ 140. I thought what a rip off. I sat there for over 4 hours waiting. Whilst waiting I phoned 2 other Toyota dealers who both said the diagnostic was £ 69. I asked to speak to the manager but was told he was too busy to speak to me, even though I was sitting there for 4 hours. Another member of staff came out and said a fault code 1100 ( I may be wrong ), I think an airbag sensor unit was needed. I confronted him regarding the cost of the diagnostic compared to other dealers and his reply was yes its £ 69 for the first half hour diagnostic to find out the fault code, but said sometimes further diagnostic was needed. How did he know this in advance by saying £ 140 before anything was done. My local garage said if he had done work on the airbag the day before and the next day the light came on he would have done the diagnostic for free, as a good will gesture. Even if he charged for one it was only £ 40. He nearly fainted when I told him how much I was being screwed for. I have now been told due to the circumstances they would fit the new airbag sensor unit for £ 492. About a third of the current value of the car. Not been back to them since. Can anyone give any advice on what I should do next, and what cost would really cost for this part and labour. I am tempted to buy a cheap diagnostic device myself on the internet to double check, but don't know which ones are compatible for my car. The car has to be OBD 2 compliant. I don't know if mine is.

Any help appreciated.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

Did you contact the Toyota dealer when the airbag light first came on - ie the day after they worked on it?

If, as your post reads, the first time you contacted them about the light was when you got back off holiday, how is the dealer to know whether the light was on the day after they worked on it, or whether it occurred later?

[Toyotosrus]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. I did not call them straight back, as I was so busy with work, and I would not be really using the car anyway as went away on holiday the following week for 3 weeks and did not need the car so phoned to book an appointment when I got back. I could have provided them with flight info if they did not believe me. I have had the car 11 years and never had any problem other than after going for this airbag recall. Too much of a coincidence for my liking. They say the air bag recall and the airbag sensor unit are separate and this would not have been touched. If anyone can confirm this yes or no would appreciate.

[cmia]

What you need to do is..

unplug the negative batter lead..

turn the ignition on / off.

leave the car to discharge 20/30 mins.

move the seats front and look at the wiring loom connectors.

unplug and plug back in.

and do the reverse.. DO NOT DO THIS STRAIGHT AWAY> DO NOT TAMPER WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IT IS PRECHARGED